Page:A history of the military transactions of the British nation in Indostan.djvu/47

Book VI. Khan approached the first, made his obeisance, and having received from Zaindee a roll of beetel, as a pledge of friendship, took, his place, standing behind him as an officer now rated in his service. Eleven other officers went through the same ceremony; and when Zaindee Hamed was presenting the beetel to the thirteenth, the officer who had last received it plunged a dagger over his shoulder kito his heart. In the same instant the others fell on those of Zaindee's retinue who were standing nearest his person, whilst the Pitan soldiers attacked the rest and his guards. The astonishment on one side being as great as the impetuosity on the other, all the attendants of Zaindee Hamed were soon dispersed; and during the conflict a party of Pitans galloped to the gate of the city, of which they kept possession, until Sumsheer Khan arrived with the rest.

Here the consternation was so great, that no one thought of resistance; and the Pitans, cutting down all they met, proceeded and got possession of the citadel. Their first care now was to seek for Hodgee, in order to retaliate the death of their leader Mustapha Khan, and the ignominy with which Hodgee had treated his remains; he was taken, endeavouring to escape in a covered pallankeen, and immediately scourged in public, like a common criminal; after which he was led through the city on an ass, with his legs tied under the belly, and his face painted half black, half white; during which procession he was insulted with every scoff and mockery that detestation could suggest. Five millions of rupees were found in his house; and the scourge was again repeated, in order to extort a confession of the treasures he was supposed to have concealed; but whether he really had no more, or believed that no confession would exempt him from future torture, he bore that which was now inflicted on him until his life was in danger; when Sumsheer Khan, desirous of reserving him for more lingering and exquisite sufferings, ordered him to be taken care of: but the unfortunate and highminded wife of Zaindee found means to convey to him a dose of poison, which in a few hours released him from all his agonies. His fate excited no commiseration; for his avarice, perfidy, and cruelty, had rendered him execrable to every rank and condition.